Customer Reviews With Photos

I am so disappointed with this product I am using this filtration system for many years . I never had that issue before . But this is second time happening to me with my replacement filters . About a years ago, I had an issue similar to what you see right now, but it was after one year of using it, and accumulation in the tube was slightly grey. This time I exchanged filters on the end of November 2023 , today’s end of February, practically are used only for three months, and I did not pay attention what was happening inside of the tube. I have just noticed inside of my electrical tea kettle, the walls, and the bottom of the cattle was covered with black. It doesn’t show when you fill trading water., but then, when I would boil it, he just stays on the wall of the metal of my electrical tea kettle. I couldn’t understand where that was coming from. And then I decide to look inside of the tube from filtrating system. and sure enough the whole tube is completely black no matter where are you going to cut it off?. I have no idea what that is. But scares the heck out of me. I am paying money to filter my water., I’m just wondering at this point what exactly am I adding to my water as a poison at this point. Seems that that system not that good anymore as it used to be. It’s very disappointing. And I can reach out to the factory already for three days. I’m calling every day and I would be on hold for ever, finally today. I left a message about six hours ago and I still didn’t hear from anyone. I decided to reach out to Customer Service of apecwateroutlet.com due to placing it through apecwateroutlet.com, and to inform them that Product is scaring me. I am wondering if any of you have purchased before had the same issue as I’m having right now . a year ago I spoke with Customer Service about it, and they told me this is just charcoal leaking out and because I’m holding that filter for too long because it was close to one year. But right now I’m wondering what kind a excuse. I will hear because I’m using it only for three months. Besides, I just replaced the whole system last year, that means I have five years ahead of me do use the main filters, I just need to replace only two every year or so. Years ago, one of the representatives informed me since I’m living alone and using that as much water, it’s enough to replace once a year, but a year ago, another representative told me that it’s not true and I have to replace every six months, I understand that’s good for business, but I don’t think even for six months there are providing a good filtrating system.

1. The system works great, UV nice +. 2. Adding the Permeate Pump (bought separately and added, not too hard) is key. https://www.apecwateroutlet.com.com/dp/B00SD73DA6?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details 3. Add the leak detector shut-off for peace of mind. https://www.apecwateroutlet.com.com/dp/B0B9R6NKGQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details 4. The ice maker kit is also a nice add and easy to do. You also get the extra line, which you can use for pump installation. https://www.apecwateroutlet.com.com/dp/B00N5D7ZFW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1 The system is working great. I tried a Brondell Circle system first; it did not make the cut and water just dribbled out, so after checking into RO systems more, the APEC came in as the clear winner. You can't miss this system, yet I do recommend adding the Permeate Pump and an auto shut-off valve device, both sold by APEC and you can order on AMZ. Lots of testimonials on the value of the pump. It is a bit work work and planning vs the other options, yet you are getting a system/filters that are designed to last a year vs 6 months. You also get the UV which is nice having well water. Just change things out according to product details depending on your water source. The ice maker add is also working fine with this source (recommend removing any water filter in the fridge, you don't need it or to keep paying for refrigerator filters); the espresso machine loves the RO water, the humidifier no longer has gunk in it, the water we use for tea does not leave sediment/film on the boiler, and it tastes good too. When adding the pump, watch a couple of YouTube videos. KEEP the shut-off valve. You'll need a bit of extra tubing (again, you can get that with the fridge option kit). I drilled holes in the mounting bracket and added the pump clip there with a little foam in the middle to absorb the clicking sound. I also put foam around the drain tube coming out of the pump. That cut down on the noise, yet it really is not that bad. It will really go click-click during the fill and then refill at first use, which is totally normal. After that, it only clicks a bit to keep things topped off. For the leak detector, I recommend adding that after the installation to make sure there are no leaks initially. Also, don't put the expansion pill until you have it installed and there are no leaks. You don't want it going off early. The shut-off valve has some slight screening in the plastic, I suspect this could get clogged (especially if you are on a well like me) over time since that shut-off is connected to water coming in (Pre-Filter), yet that is where you want it. Make sure you remove some of the foam on the bottom to allow water to flow to the pill material so it can expand and shut off if needed. You don't need a 1/4-/2 inch of water under your sink; you want that shut-off valve exposed to water quickly if there is a leak. There are easy to remove cutouts in the foam. Those cutouts allow the water to reach the device. Also, don't put it way in the back; keep it where you can get to it. Again, for $15 get the icemaker kit too. You get an extra line that you can use for the pump if you are going keep using the existing icemaker/water line to the fridge. That is what I did, worked fine. Overall I am totally impressed and satisfied all the way around with APEC product and their customer support. I called them a couple of times before buying and they were really good.

I’ve installed three of these in the midwest and they work well. All of mine have been on 3/4 or larger municipal supply lines but I’m not sure that 1/2 would not be fine. In my experience filters are large and can easily handle six months of particulate without reducing water flow in large homes.

Not even close to the item pictured. Much cheaper product. Broke when attempted to test it. DO NOT BUY! **UPDATE** The company APEC reached out to offer a full refund. They have also updated the images to show the actual product. APEC as a company seems to make great products(their RO systems are the best), but this product is a very poor design. I would not be comfortable using this to prevent a leak.

Having never owned or installed one of these before, take my review for what it's worth. Installed in April of 2023. Product seems solidly built and no part of it feels substandard. Apec's website has a lot of helpful information about not only their products but water filtration in general, and the company overall feels as solid as the products they sell. Instructions are straightforward and clear, however BE CAREFUL READING because the stages of this 3-filter system go from right-to-left, but the instructions show them going from left-to-right. (This could easily lead to improper filter installation.) Installation was... not much fun overall and very time-consuming, but that's no fault of the product. (40+ solder points to construct the bypass manifold, shut-off valves, pressure gauges, and inlet/outlet points.) My only real complaint with the product is a minor one, but I could see it being a possible huge one for someone else - the housings for the filters are solid plastic, and accordingly there are multiple warnings of DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN. Good advice and all... but it's also difficult to determine what exactly IS the appropriate tightening. As such I experienced leaks at installation because I was hesitant when applying Teflon tape and when tightening copper into the plastic housings. The leaks were remedied soon enough however. If self-installing and not paying for labor/markup, factor in an additional $200 - $250 dollars on pipes and parts. Except for the pressure gauges that I installed at the inlet and outlet, all of my additional parts were from Home Depot and I used about 9 feet of 3/4" pipe. The gauges are available on apecwateroutlet.com (SENCTRL 100 Psi Lead-Free Glycerin Liquid Filled Low Pressure Gauge, 2.5" Dial Size, 1/4" NPT Lower Mount, Stainless Steel Case) and are easy to read and appear solid and accurate. The shut-off valves and adapter parts to attach the gauges to the copper pipes were something of a hassle to conjure up though, as they weren't found in the plumbing aisle but rather the air tools and brass fittings aisles. (I actually had to ask an employee for help on that part... how humbling.) Pictures show the final installation and a long view to depict the overall size of the system. Check your available space and product measurements because it IS large. However it sits above my water softener nicely. Finally, as far as water quality goes... I actually have no danged idea how much of a difference this system will make yet. My 30 year-old Las Vegas house was purchased in January 2022 without any kind of water filtration ever installed in it, and it appeared to have a TERRIBLE scale problem as the original appliances were covered in white along with counters, sinks, tubs, and faucets. The water softener appeared to curb that somewhat on my shower door, but with a softener and reverse osmosis already invested into the house, I decided to go all-in with this system too, which is what was recommended for Las Vegas water. Only the little water meter that I bought when I installed my RO still shows 450 TDS at my tap, so... huzzuh? Guess I need to research that more because I'm certainly puzzled at how that all works... will update this review with any relevant info found. Update August 2023 - Scale in the house has disappeared, and there's no longer a layer of white funk all over everything - a noticeable and obvious difference than before. Nice! Update April 2024 - Installing this has made a huge difference in showers, counters, dishwasher, and the water spout on the refrigerator. The white scale that was once everywhere in the house is completely gone. Absolutely zero buyer's remorse.

Date of installation was 10/16/2020. It's now 11/17/2020 and the output is about as low as the part per million. When I first installed this filter, I was able to get a gallon in about 12 mins. Now, I'm lucky to see a gallon in 2hrs. It's producing about a 1.5 drops of water per second. I live in Queens NY and the tap water isn't that bad. The water pressure is about 45psi coming out of the faucet.

The item arrived completely unpackaged, no plastic around it, and both ends were open so it was probably used already, and definitely contaminated either way. YUCK!

Same as some other folks, these o rings didn't properly fit my 1st, 2nd, or 3rd stage filters on my RO system. Still, I'm not seeing any leakage, and my system works fine. Minus 1 star for making me feel like I was going to have to go through the hassle of returning $8 o rings.

We formally purchased another line of filters for a different under-sink RO system and would spend $200 every 3 months and it required us shutting down our system and purging it for 24 hours. This system can be used within 15 minutes of installing/replacing filters. The water quality is even better. Although the filters do create waste once you dispose, it isn't in comparison to the hundreds of plastic bottles that create even more waste and hazards. We live in a town where water filtration is subpar and very hard. The drinks you make with our water vs. this filter can't compare in clarity alone. I only gave it 4 stars for installation due to the fact that most under-sink units aren't easily accessible and require some maneuvering on floor level, but overall straightforward. We date and mark each filter with the corresponding order of installation to ensure we properly install them and change them out timely. In the pictures you will see a glass of tea, with the same tea concentration, with the same steeping times, same brand. The difference is one on the left is from the tap source no filtration and the one on the right is filtered with APEC. The smell alone was a stark contrast before the clarity and taste was addressed. We used a flashlight to show the murkiness of the one on the left (a) vs. the one on the right (B) in two of the pictures. Just an overall great investment.

I bought this to replace a drain saddle that came with a competitor's saddle for a reverse osmosis system that was broken. I had already drilled the hole, so this drain saddle just went on, I pressed in the tubing, and was ready to go!

Clean tasting water! It's easy to install on most typical faucet that takes an aerator attachment. Did bacteria test and it came out negative. Did strip test for chemicals and it was all extremely low or none at all. Don't know how accurate those are but bought them off apecwateroutlet.com as well. The faucet hose is the only negative I can point out. It won't be able to handle that much pressure. Just be careful and monitor it while it's running. If it bursts, it's pretty easy to repair, just cut the tube and reconnect then push down the metal connectors. Only had that happen once and now I'm more careful not to open the faucet more than a quarter of the way. I've had RO systems in different countries and those had thicker hoses but I suppose it keeps the price down here. It's a great system, just be mindful of the limitations of a small portable unit. About 8-10 minutes for a gallon of water for me. Water will come out looking milky the first time you use it. Just let it run for a few minutes. The milky stuff is mostly air and will eventually clear up. I've not had this issue after the initial setup. TDS is greatly lowered after passing the RO filter. I also installed the PH filter so that's why it's still showing a low number. Great for cooking, use in appliances like steam or iron, humidifier, etc.

I ordered all five filters for my APEC water system. The rest of the filters are fine. The three pre-filters are inside a cardboard box. The membrane filter is in a sealed plastic container. This carbon filter, however, does not even have a plastic wrapping around it. It was put inside the shipping box, which was broken during shipping unfortunately. I don’t know if the filter is used or not. I would feel much better if there is some sort of bag to keep the filter clean during shipping. apecwateroutlet.com should have done better on shipping.

I got this product to replace my reverse osmosis system I bought from this company 10 years ago. I needed something that would retain the minerals but still give me the same filtration that I expect from a high quality system. This was easy to install ,less than half hour. I didn't notice any difference in the performance or flow of water after attaching it to my sink. I bought the used version and it was a great value for my money I bought a second one.

We replace these filters about once a year, and they work great! No leaks. Attached is a before-and-after pic of replacing after 1 year.

I change my tubing and filters more often than specified due to multiple issues over the life of this unit that I won't discuss here. As I was changing my tubing I noticed dark build up within the tubing and decided to cut it open to inspect. I have no idea what is in the tubing and my family and I have been ingesting it for who knows how long. It's absolutely disgusting and unacceptable. I would NEVER purchase another product from APEC again